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If you're having trouble viewing this message, please visit my legislative web page at http://www.leg.state.or.us/prozanski/, click on "News" in the lower left-hand column and scroll down.
Dear friends,
With Veterans Day coming up on Monday, Nov. 11, I want to take a moment to honor our veterans and to encourage you to join me in thanking our servicemen and women. Veterans are all around us: our friends, neighbors and coworkers. To give you a sense of how many Americans have – and continue to – serve, the U.S. Census Bureau recently shared an interesting snapshot of the number of brave men and women who have served our country:
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9.2 million veterans are over the age of 65.
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7.8 million veterans served during the Vietnam War era (1964-1975), which represents 33% of all living veterans.
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1.9 million veterans are under the age of 35.
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1.8 million veterans are women.
- 6 million veterans served in peacetime.
To all our service men and women, both here and overseas, I say: Thank you.
I believe that Oregon has a responsibility to support our servicemen and women in uniform, especially as they return home and prepare to enter the workforce. Unfortunately, veterans returning home often find themselves priced out of a college education due to the high cost of out-of-state tuition. I'm proud to say that during the 2013 regular session, my colleagues and I passed HB 2158 to make college more accessible and affordable for veterans. By giving veterans at Oregon's public universities and community colleges the opportunity to pay in-state college tuition, we were able to make college significantly less expensive for those who couldn't prove current residency in the state. Our veterans have made many sacrifices defending our country, and this law helps us honor their sacrifice by providing veterans with greater opportunities.
A few other bills passed during the 2013 session that support our veterans are listed below. In addition, you will find information on:
- What You Can Do
- Area Veterans Day Events
Thank you for joining me this month in supporting our veterans and honoring their service to our country.
2013 Regular Session in Review: Honoring Our Veterans
(Listed in numerical order)
SB 281 - PTSD as Qualifying Condition for Medical Marijuana: Many physicians agree that medical marijuana can be a useful tool for managing a range of symptoms for veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. After listening to hours of public testimony from veterans requesting this bill be passed, this bill authorized the use of marijuana with a physician's prescription under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act.
SB 461 - Designating Interstate 84 as Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway: This bill will help remind people of the sacrifice made by Vietnam veterans by directing the Oregon Department of Transportation to place signs honoring veterans of the Vietnam War along I-84 from Portland to Ontario. The Oregon State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America will pay for the creation and installation of "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway" signs throughout the length of I-84 in Oregon.
HB 2421 - Streamlining State Services for Veterans: Navigating state services shouldn't be a frustrating and lengthy process for Oregon veterans. This bill instructed the Oregon Department of Transportation to share names and addresses of service members and veterans with the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs on a monthly basis regarding licenses, identification cards, certificates of vehicle title, or vehicle registrations. The bill will make state services easier to navigate for service men and women.
What You Can Do
I'm proud of what the legislature has accomplished, but there is always more to do. To honor the service of the brave men and women who serve and protect the U.S. year-round, here are a few ways you can show your appreciation – or just lend a helping hand – right here in Oregon:
- Volunteer for your local VA center. As just one example, drivers are always needed to shuttle veterans.
Roseburg VA: 541-440-1000
Eugene VA: 541-465-6918
- Join the Soldiers' Angels "Adopt a Veteran" program and commit to send one letter a week and one care package a month to a soldier deployed overseas. Members of the Adopt a Veteran team provide moral support and small gifts for returning heroes.
- Say thank you. Thanking individual veterans for their service is a simple way to show your gratitude, and it can mean a lot to someone who has served.
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Donate your old cell phone. Instead of stashing your old cellphone in a drawer, donate it to Cell Phones for Soldiers, an organization that donates one hour of talk time for troops overseas for each cellphone donated.
Area Veterans Day Events
Eugene
Monday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. @ Veterans Memorial Building
Annual "11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month"
Guest speakers: Lt. Bryan Boender, Afghanistan vet; Bob Welch, Register-Guard columnist
Monday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. @ UofO Ford Alumni Center Ballroom – Public celebration
Performance by tuba ensemble; recognition of Tillman Scholars. Light refreshments served
Springfield
Sunday, Nov. 10, 1:30 p.m. @ downtown Springfield
Lane County Veterans Day Parade
Elkton
Thursday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. @ Elkton High School Gym
Student songs, poetry, original writings, and refreshments
Guest speaker: Bob Welch, Register-Guard columnist
Elkton School District will issue official high school diplomas to qualified veterans who served and did not receive one
Roseburg
Monday, Nov. 11, 7 to 10 a.m. @ Roseburg Post 16
Free breakfast for veterans (406 SE Oak St.)
Monday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. @ downtown Roseburg
Douglas County Veterans Day Parade
Grand Marshals: Native American Veterans; Cow Creek Tribal honor guards will lead parade; Free catered food to be served at awards ceremony
Monday, Nov. 11, 3:30 p.m. @ VFW Post 2468
Dedication of Veterans Remembrance Wall (1127 NE Walnut St.)
Albany
Monday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. @ downtown Albany
Albany Veterans Day Parade
Largest Veterans Day Parade West of the Mississippi
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